Chiesman Center for Democracy Civic Education

12/23/2013

The United States were part of the British Empire, so we have many traditions that come from over the pond. But we did break a few customs, thankfully the Christmas pudding was one of them.

Christmas pudding or "plum" pudding (there are no plums in plum pudding -- raisins used to be called plums in England) is the traditional dessert during the holidays. It consisted of dried fruit held together with egg and suet and then it was boiled and aged. Mmmm-mmmmm. To prevent it from spoiling while it aged a month or so, it was soaked in brandy. Puddings could either be boiled in a cheesecloth bag or steamed in a pudding tin/mold; no matter how they were prepared, they were usually quite black in color.

While early colonists probably continued making puddings, the pie became the dessert of choice in America. That's one thing to be thankful for this year!

12/19/2013

We know that Christmas Day is a big day in the NBA -- Heat vs. Lakers, Spurs vs. Rockets, Bulls vs. Nets. BUT the best game is in February! Mark your calendars for the 17th Annual Kids Voting Liberty Ball Game -- Feb. 26, 2014 at Riggs HS Gym in Pierre. SD Senate vs. SD House. Get your game on!

12/18/2013

Nearly 400 years ago, the Pilgrims docked the Mayflower in Plymouth Harbor.
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12/17/2013

"I care not what others think of what I do, but I care very much about what I think of what I do! That is character!"
--- Theodore Roosevelt

12/16/2013

What was the Boston Tea Party? It was carried out on Dec. 16, 1773 in Boston Harbor when members of the Sons of Liberty boarded three British ships and tossed 342 chests of tea overboard. In today's currency, that would be worth about $700,000! They were rebelling against the Tea Act of 1773.

12/13/2013

“Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow. The shadow is what we think it is and the tree is the real thing.”
― Abraham Lincoln

12/12/2013

“Good actions give strength to ourselves and inspire good actions in others."
--- Plato

12/11/2013

“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
― John Bunyan

12/10/2013

On Dec. 10, 1869 Wyoming voters passed the nation's first women's suffrage law. While Wyoming women were recognized as voting citizens, it would take another 51 years before all US women received that right in 1920 with the passage of the 19th Amendment. Way to go Wyoming!

12/10/2013

If you're traveling in the Pierre area, stop by the State Capitol to enjoy Christmas at the Capitol. More than 90 trees decorated by individuals and organizations from across South Dakota are on display. It's a truly remarkable display, and a nice reason to visit the Capitol, which is always fun.

The trees will be up until Dec 28, 2013.

12/06/2013

One of history's mysteries is which president was the first one to have a Christmas tree in the White House. Some sources say that it was President Franklin Pierce did in 1856; others claim President Benjamin Harrison brought in the first tree in 1889.

President Teddy Roosevelt did not allow Christmas trees in the White House during his presidency. At that time, the practice wasn't that common, and the cutting of trees for the purpose of decoration was fairly controversial.

And in 1923, President Calvin Coolidge started the White House lighting ceremony in 1923, which continues today.

12/05/2013

Some fun reindeer facts -- just to set the record straight. Reindeer and caribou are classified as the same genus and species—Rangifer tarandus—but caribou are larger animals who have remained wild, and reindeer are domesticated. Reindeer is the European and Asian name for the domesticated animal that is used by humans to pull sleds or carry packs, and caribou is the name used in the northern parts of North America.

What about those antlers? Males begin to grow antlers in February and females in May. They both finish growing their antlers at the same time and shed the velvet during September.

However, they shed their antlers at different times of the year. A male drops his during November, leaving him without antlers in December, while female reindeer keep their antlers through the winter until their calves are born in May. Only the females still have their antlers in December! Of course, this is probably why Santa doesn't get lost --- females will stop and ask for directions.